Farmer participatory evaluation of eight elite clones of cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium L. Schott)

Abstract

Twenty cocoyam farmers from the Ejisu-Juabeng municipality were involved in a farmer participatory on-station evaluation of cocoyam at Fumesua (a rainforest agro ecological zone of the Ashanti Region of Ghana) for 2 years (2009-2010) major growing seasons). Eight elite clones of cocoyam were evaluated for high yield, tolerance to major diseases and pests and culinary properties. Phenotypic attributes evaluated at peak vegetative phase 24 weeks after planting (24 WAP) were plant height, number of leaves and leaf area. At harvest, 12 months after planting (12 MAP), variables evaluated included number of cormels, weight of cormels, and yield per plant. Season × clone interaction for all variables evaluated were significant. The clones also differed significantly in all the parameters evaluated. Leaf area, number of cormels and weight of cormels were all positively correlated with yield. Based on farmers’ recommendation and performance of the clones, four clones (3 purple and 1 white) yielding between 5.3 – 6.2 t ha^-1 ( higher than the locally cultivated 4 .2 t ha^-1) and tolerant to major diseases and pest, and having acceptable culinary properties have been proposed for release to farmers in the Ejisu-Juabeng Municipality.